Paul Skenes Dominates in Pirates' 1-0 Victory

PHOENIX -- Reigning National League Cy Young winner Paul Skenes toyed with perfection while dominating the Diamondbacks in a 1-0 victory on Wednesday night. Skenes retired the first 14 batters he faced until Lourdes Gurriel Jr. hit a dribbler down the third-base line with two outs in the fifth. Skenes fielded the ball but his throw to first was wide, allowing Gurriel to reach on an infield hit.

Nolan Arenado followed with a sharp single to left, but Skenes retired Gabriel Moreno on a fly to right field to end the inning, preserving the Pirates’ lead. Those were the only Arizona runners who reached base against him.

It was similar to Skenes’ previous performance when he retired the first 20 batters in a 6-0 victory over Milwaukee on April 24. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft has had strong outings against Arizona in his short career, having not given up a run in his last three starts against them. He achieved victories twice in 2025, defeating the Diamondbacks 10-1 in Phoenix on May 28 and 6-0 at home on July 27.

Skenes was virtually untouchable, allowing only seven hits in 12 2/3 innings against the D-backs, complemented by 16 strikeouts and one walk. On Wednesday, he lowered his season ERA to 2.36, striking out seven without a walk over eight innings. He threw 97 pitches, with 65 strikes, and exited after a 17-pitch eighth inning, finishing with a flourish by striking out the side.

Skenes (5-2) bounced back nicely from a previous 10-5 defeat to St. Louis where he recorded a season-high nine strikeouts but surrendered five runs (three earned) including two first-inning homers, contributing to his four total long balls given up in the first seven starts of the season. Skenes predominantly relied on his 97-98 mph fastball, achieving 13 outs with it before striking out three in the eighth inning using a pair of changeups and a splitter. He secured five outs on the changeup and three on the splitter.

The D-backs had no substantial threats until Gurriel’s chopper, with Gurriel’s 98.2 mph line drive to center at the end of the second being their only hard-hit ball until Arenado’s single in the fifth. Brandon Lowe’s long home run in the top of the first, measuring 435 feet over the center-field wall, accounted for the game’s only run. Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.